Supporting People with Learning Disabilities

This purpose of this policy is to ensure that people with learning disabilities are able access high quality health care with positive outcomes when attending ASPH.

In order to achieve this people with a learning disability will follow reasonably adjusted pathways.

It is hoped that the policy will also:-

• Enable staff in the acute trust to develop a better understand of people with learning disabilities and to equip them to deal more effectively with the particular needs of each individual
• Paid/unpaid carers/relatives accompanying a person with learning disabilities into the acute trust are made aware of the protocol for carers around the carers roles and responsibilities
• Support LD staff in their role
• Embed the use of the hospital passport for people with learning disabilities/dementia using hospital services
• Provide an opportunity for the trust and learning disability liaison staff to work together to develop:
  1. effective communication
  2. training
  3. awareness of the particular needs of a person with learning disability
  4. easy to understand information for service users
  5. respect expert knowledge of cares/family members

Key Priorities

The key priorities identified are for referral to be made to the Learning disability liaison nurse who will instigate signposting to other appropriate professionals as necessary:

• helping people with learning disabilities have access to information in an easy read format
• providing support and guidance to hospital staff in order to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities
• co-ordinating the care of someone with a learning disability at any point of their hospital journey helping someone with learning disabilities prepare for their hospital visit and/or stay
• providing training opportunities to acute staff regarding the needs of people with learning disabilities
• encouraging acute staff to make reasonable adjustments to care where required
• providing advice around the Mental Capacity Act including capacity assessments, best interest decisions, Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)
• support the discharge process
• sign post to other services as required